Fire select three players in 2012 MLS SuperDraft

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club selected three players in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. With the club’s first round selection, ninth overall, the club selected 23-year-old central defender Austin Berry from the University of Louisville. In the second round the Fire picked striker Lucky Mkosana (23rd overall) from Dartmouth College and Hunter Jumper (28th overall) from the University of Virginia.

“We selected three talented players and addressed some of the things we were looking for going into preseason camp,” said Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas. “The club is familiar with all three players and we look forward to getting things going next week when the team reports to Chicago.”

Berry joins the Fire after a successful college career at the University of Louisville. The 23-year-old defender appeared in 95 matches, starting 87, in his time with the Cardinals, tallying 11 goals and five assists. As a redshirt Junior, Berry was an integral piece in leading Louisville to the NCAA College Cup Final. A product of Cincinnati, OH, Berry previously played for the Chicago Fire Premier, scoring one goal in 16 matches during the 2010 USL Premier Development League campaign.

With the fourth selection in the second round, the Fire selected striker Lucky Mkosana from Dartmouth College. While with the Big Green, the stealthy forward bagged 34 goals to become the school’s all-time leading goal scorer while adding 10 assists in 73 appearances from 2008-11. A green-card holder, Mkosana is a four-time All-Ivy League First Team selection, the 23-year-old striker was named the conference’s player of the year in 2011. Hailing from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Mkosana appeared in 10 matches, scoring one goal for the Michigan Bucks during the 2011 Premier Development League Season

The Fire snagged Jumper with the ninth selection in the second round. The Plano, Texas product started and appeared in 79 matches, tallying five goals and nine assists as a left back for the University of Virginia from 2008-11. At 6-2, 180 pounds, Jumper was a 2011 NSCAA Second Team Regional selection and has previously played for the U.S. U-17 and U-18 national teams.